Rampaging Glory thump Jets

Perth Glory have kicked off their 2013/14 Westfield W-League campaign in style with a strong 5-2 win over the Newcastle Jets at Wanderers Oval in Newcastle.

Perth Glory have kicked off their 2013/14 Westfield W-League campaign in style with a strong 5-2 win over the Newcastle Jets at Wanderers Oval in Newcastle on Saturday afternoon.

Matilda Katie Gill opened the scoring in just the first minute of play before the Jets levelled via Hannah Beard.

Perth regained the lead through skipper Collette McCallum before the Jets sent the teams to the break locked at 2-2 when Tara Andrews converted from the penalty spot.

The Jets looked likely to go on with it in the second half but the Glory wrested back the lead via a lovely strike from Christina Julien just after the hour mark.

Late goals from substitute striker Rosie Sutton and midfielder Marianna Tabian blew out the score in favour of the Glory, with the scoreline not a true reflection of the hard-fought nature of the contest.

The match started in sweltering conditions and it was the Glory who got the perfect start with a goal in the opening minute.

Tabian found space down the left flank before sending a lovely cross into the box where Gill volleyed home.

The Jets hit back just four minutes later when lanky striker Andrews was given too much time in the area and she slid a pass to an unmarked Beard, who slotted home from the edge of the six-yard box to make it 1-1 after five minutes.

The Glory went back in front a short time later when McCallum fashioned a lovely volley from 12 yards out that skimmed off the underside of the crossbar and over the line to make it 2-1 after 10 minutes.

The Glory almost extended their lead when Elisa D'Ovidio threaded a through ball for Gill but Jets goalkeeper Eliza Campbell showed plenty of bravery to smother the ball before Gill could unleash a shot.

The visitors went close again when McCallum crossed to the edge of the area where Tabian tried a chip volley but Campbell did well to glove the chance.

Newcastle hit back against the run of play when Beard was brought down in the area by Glory goalkeeper Chantel Jones. Andrews made no mistake from the spot firing into the top right of the net to level the scores at 2-2 after 35 minutes.

Gill went close again five minute before half-time when she showed her predatory instinct for goal by sliding to meet a low cross from Tabian but her touch skimmed off the top of the crossbar.

The Jets were dealt a body blow just before half-time as midfielder Grace McIntyre was stretchered off with what looked like a bad knee injury. Cassidy Davis came on 90 seconds before referee Katie Patterson blew the whistle for half-time.

Storm clouds gathered and the temperature dropped slightly for the start of the second half but the action remained just as hot on the field as the Jets engineered the first chance after the interval.

Beard fed a lovely ball into the box for Andrews, who rounded Jones but could only chip her shot from a tight angle over the crossbar.

The Jets continued to press and earned a corner that saw Jasmine Courtney volley her shot just wide of the target.

The Glory managed to wrestle back some control of the midfield and they duly regained the lead via a scintillating strike from Christina Julien, who fired a lovely shot from range that pierced the hands of Campbell and into the top corner of the net to make it 3-2 after 66 minutes.

With the momentum behind them Perth came home strongly. Gill fed a deft through ball for Julien who fired on target only to see her shot parried away by Campbell.

Rosie Sutton came on to replace Gill and was immediately in the action. Julien chipped a shot from the edge of the area that hit the crossbar and Sutton was on hand with the follow-up but she headed wide.

The Glory sealed the win nine minutes from full-time with a lovely team goal. It started in the midfield when Tabian chipped a ball over the top for Julien who sprinted towards goal before sliding a pass across for Sutton to slot home.

The visitors added one more right on the full-time whistle when Sutton and Campbell clashed outside in a tussle for possession and the ball squirted out for Tabian, who calmly stroked into an open net.